In this entry
I comment to the value of men who don't mince words. When they
discern unacceptable behaviour in a man they don't make excuses -
even if the man is his pastor. They lose respect if a man
displays a lot of ungodly behavior and attitude.

The church
needs men
with backbone (and women) and who, as Paul says, know how to confront.

The church
needs men who see through the show and get straight to the heart of
the issue. If there is sin they confront it. They don't
make excuses for sloppy character.

This sweb log
entry focuses on mens need to be fathered. We need fathers who
affirm that we are their beloved son. Without that fatherly
affirmation we may immaturely seek to be the center of attention.

The Body of
Christ needs servant leaders whose heart is not 'all about me.'
If man lack affirming fathers we may get narcissistic
pastors who are more interested in how they look than making
others look good.

In this blog
entry I look at God's call for our faithfulness - even being faithful
in little things. I look at God's grace sustaining us so we can
do what seemed impossible. Then I ask why do pastor neglect
standard business practices and guidlines around finances?

In Demons in
the Sanctuary Pastor Rutherford bends the financial rules and fails
to display good pastor accountability with finances. Instead of financial
wrongdoing why not faithfulness in small things?

We expect
exemplary behavior and healthy loving attitudes from our pastors and
ministerial staff. In Demons in the Sanctuary - which I am
reading for the portrait it could give of Ralph
Rutledge - we seem to get the opposite.

Unity and real
community is a gift of the Holy Spirit. A group that is willing
to be open about their own faults and pray for one another may
experience in inflow of the Holy Spirit.

When the
Spirit comes in the room people act differently and wee others
differently. Bellamy catches that moment for this Board when prayer
leads to that shift toward genuine Christian community and the
asociated shift in perspective. (A similar shifts happens after
inner healing prayer.)

I am
scared! As I read through Demons in the Sanctuary with my
counsellor's heart, I find I am getting anxious.

Of course I
am giving it careful and prayerful attention. I am making notes
of Biblical principles. I am relating this to my knowledge of
spiritual warfare, wolves in sheep's clothing, spiritual abuse,
healthy confrontation, pastoral and Christian accountability and core
emotional issues.

And, of
course, I cannot forget that behind the story is a very real church,
a very real Board and one very real pastor - 'Rev.' Ralph Rutledge
(see Ralph
Rutledge Scandal Updates) . The weight of these events on
an inexperienced Board must have been crushing.

The reason
this is scary is that Mira is discovering how effective Pastor
Rutherford is at getting things done, changing people's minds,
breaking people down, shaming people, dividing groups and intimidation.

Background
control like this is a form of witchcraft because unhealthy
control is like witchcraft but it also reminds us of Queen
Jezebel - a woman from a nation that was not godly, who did not
follow God's laws but did evil through behind the scenes manipulation.

All this
background politicing by Pastor Rutherford turns people around and
creates divisions. In a very unhealthy way she discovers he is
a "force to be reckoned with."

8.
Control the exits with threats (Chapter 7)

Pastors may
us inappropriate means to keep their members. What this chapter
reveals is how pastor Rutherford is prepared to suggest to a board
member who is holding him accountable that those who oppose him
suffer. I consider this a
curse and a form of informal withcraft - predicting ill on
others and speaking it out.